As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hospice Program Director in the United States is $132,960 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.
However, a Hospice Program Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
A Hospice Program Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Hospice Program Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Hospice Program Director | $124,270 |
| Intermediate Level Hospice Program Director | $125,542 |
| Senior Level Hospice Program Director | $127,661 |
| Specialist Level Hospice Program Director | $129,781 |
| Expert Level Hospice Program Director | $133,277 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Hospice Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 14% |
| Clinical Leadership | 3.16% |
| Quality Assurance | 1.81% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Drug Enforcement
|
$174,178 |
31%
|
|
Record Keeping
|
$156,893 |
18%
|
|
Medical Management
|
$152,904 |
15%
|
|
Quality Management
|
$146,256 |
10%
|
|
Social Work
|
$146,256 |
10%
|
|
Risk Management
|
$142,267 |
7%
|
Hospice Program Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $141,033. While startup companies pay approximate $120,181.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $120,181 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $126,867 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $136,422 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $141,033 |
For Hospice Program Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Hospice Program Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Hospice Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $159,552 | $77.0 | 20% |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hospice Program Directors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Hospice Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $127,929 and $138,301).
Hospice Program Director Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.2% |
| High School | 1.2% |
| Associates | 14.1% |
| Bachelors | 36.5% |
| Masters | 47.1% |
| Doctorate | 1.2% |
Understanding how a Hospice Program Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on August 01, 2026For a Hospice Program Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Medical Education Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $193,800 - a projected growth of 46% over your current level.
Salaries for a Hospice Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $157,864 in 2023 to around $133,058 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Hospice Program Director salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $157,864 |
| 2024 | $140,989 |
| 2025 | $133,058 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Hospice Program Director and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hospice Program Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Hospice Program Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
The salary for a Hospice Program Director typically ranges from $118,320 to $154,260 annually, with a mid-range salary of about $134,730. This is significantly higher than the reported salaries for hospice CEOs in cities like Palo Alto, CA, where the annual salary is around $96,564.
A Hospice Program Director typically earns between $118,320 and $154,260 annually, with a median salary of around $134,730. This range reflects the competitive compensation for such roles in the healthcare sector, aligning closely with industry standards.
The highest salary for a Hospice Program Director is $154,260 annually. Salaries typically range from a minimum of $118,320 to a midpoint of $134,730, reflecting the varying levels of experience and responsibility within the role.
As a Hospice Program Director, you oversee staff, review daily reports, and ensure that organizational goals align with compassionate patient care. You manage budgets and ensure accurate billing. The salary for this role ranges from $118,320 to $154,260, with a midpoint of $134,730, reflecting the importance and responsibility of the position.
Typically, managers earn between $40,000 and $112,000, while Hospice Program Directors have a significantly higher salary range. The minimum salary for a Hospice Program Director is $118,320, with a mid-range salary of $134,730 and a maximum of $154,260. This indicates that directors generally earn more than managers.
The profit of a hospice business varies significantly. The median cost is $6,737 per patient, with a median pretax profit of $334 per patient. Without grants and donations, the median profit drops to $63 per patient. For a Hospice Program Director, salaries range from $118,320 to $154,260, reflecting the financial dynamics of the industry.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
